Weedless or self-clearing propeller.



WEEDLESS 0R SELF CLEARING PROPELLEB.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-1, 190'!- I 91 1,939, Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

W. L. OASADAY.

WEEDLESS on-snu CLEARING PBOPELLEB.

3 I APPLICATION FILED AUG.1, 1907. 91 1,939

Patented Feb. 9,1909.

" 2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

WILLIAM L.v GASADAY, OF SOUTH BlilNDiI-NDIANA.

wnnminss OR.SELF-CLEARING PBOPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

a in -anon filed August 1, 1907. Serial No. 386,604.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. CAsADAY,

a citizenof the United States, and a resident of South'Bend, St. Joseph county, Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Imrovements in \Veedless or Self-Clearing ropellers; and I do hereby declare that the I of reference marked thereon, which form a kelp, bulrushes, sea-weed or other floating part of this specification.

This invention relates to Weedless or self clearing propellers and is shown embodied more particularly as a propeller for launches or small boats though adaptable for use by vessels or boats. of any desired size.

Heretofore in weedy water or water where or suspended vegetation is found, it has been difiicult if not impossible to successfully navigate boats driven by rotary propellers i inasmuchas the vegetationsoon windsupon theshaft about the wheel forming a ball of matter that may break the shaft or propeller wheel, or in motor boats almost invariably stops the engine.

The object of this invention isto provide a self-clearing "or Weedless propeller by the use of which vegetation of any kind cannot clog"- or gather upon the shaft.

It is a further object of the invention to afford a propeller and coacting means engaged upon the boat and together acting to shear or cut vegetation or other material that would otherwise wind upon and accumulateupon the shaft or about the propeller.

It isfurther an object of the invention to afford a propeller in which the shape of the propeller itself assists in clearing the same of weeds and by theuseofwhich together with knives on the boat, ac-

coactingstationary cumulation'of Weeds is impossible.

It isalso an object ofthe invention to afford a knife adapted to be rigidly engaged upon a boat in position to coast with a cutting edgeon each bucket of the propeller wheel whereby any material that would otherwise wind around the shaft is severed therefrom.

It is finallyan object of the invention to provide in connection with a device such as described, a cutting mechanism to coast with the blades of a propeller and which are so shaped at the forward edges as to permit any I adherent material such as vegetation to be 'rearwardly through .vided on its outer end with the propeller 95 drawn over the same and discharged at the rear of the boat. Theinvention consists of the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and .defined in the appended claims. In the drawings: Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a face view of the knife used in the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the knife. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the rear end of a motor boat and illustrating the application of the weed cutter to coast with the propeller. Fig. 5 is an enlarged edge view of the same. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of the propeller and knife. Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of the knife. Fig. 8 is a detail illustrating a modified form of propeller which coacting witha suitable knife engaged in operative relation thereto, assists in the clearing of weeds or the like.

As shown in the drawings: A indicates the stern post of the boat and B a skeg or rudder shoe which is sup orted from the stern post by an extension bolted to both, and projectsany suitable distance rearwardly. Journaled in the after end of the skeg by means of a suitable gudgeon c is a gear box or casing as shown in Fig. 1 comprising as shown two a proximate! equal sections 0 between whic 1 when rigid y secured together is enga ed the forward edge or end of the knives and D or the knife may be cast integrally with either section of the gear casin Within the casing as shown is journaled the propeller shaft C which extends the casing andis prowheel E. Rigidly secured on the shaft 0 within the casing is a bevel gear a. which meshes with a corres onding bevel gear 0 also in the casing to w iich is rigidly engaged an upwardlydirected shaft C at the upper end of which is secured a motor of any suitable kind and means for pivoting the shaft to the stern of the boat, or the motor may be within the boat and the shaft thereof extend upwardly above the counter and engage the upper end of the shaft C by means of bevel gears. Either of these arrangements is well known and forms no part of my invention.

The propeller E as shown may be provided with any desired number of blades or buck- 11c etswhioh may be of any preferred or usual conformation. As shown, however, the

' course, the blades boats and at its outer same incline rearwardly and the forwardedge of each blade or bucket is shaped to afford a cutting edge on each side. The knife or knives DD are shaped at their rear edges to conform closely with the propeller blades as the same rotate, and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is )rovided with a square edge whereby either 0 i the rear angles at the edge affords a cutting edge to coact with the corresponding angle on the respective propeller blades. Of or buckets of the propeller being set obliquely as is usual, afford a shearing cut with the knives D-D thereby most effectively severing any strands of seaweed, lines, or other material that might otherwise be wound around the shaft though of course the rearward inclination of the propeller blades tend to throw any such weeds or lines clear as the wheel rotates.

The construction shown in Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive is substantially that before described, with the ewe tion thatthe shaft 0 extends through the lbg G as is usual with motor end is provided with a propeller wheel E which may be of any preferred form. Just beyond the stern bearing g, a knife D is rigidly engaged on the skeg B and to said stern bearing, and is provided at its'upwhich engages around per end with a collar 03 the shaft. This knife is constructed as be fore described and whatever the pitch of the forward edges of the propeller blades will conform thereto so that as the wheel revolves a shearing cut is insured for any material that may find its way between the same. In this construction also as shown in Fig. 8 the forward edges of the blades D curve rearwardly and the erids thereof are sha ed to permit lines, weeds or any material to s ide rearwardly thereover, this of course being facilitated by the action of the wheel and the current caused by the motion of the boat. Ofcourse however, the propeller may assume any suitable form.

The operation is as follows: Whether in working ahead or reversing, weeds, lines or any material that might otherwise wind about the shaft when carried by the propeller forward of the same are immediately engaged with the shearing cut between the forward ends of the blades and the rearwardly directed edges of the knife either above or below the shaft and in consequence such material is quickly severed clearing the shaft therefrom. In the construction shown in Fig. l the rotation of the gear casing C on its bearing formed by serves to steer the boat and no rudder is reuired, and inasmuch as the gears are entlrely inclos'ed in the casing not only are the same kept free from weeds, but all manner of dirt is excluded therefrom and inconsequence the bearings require less attention than heretofore and the life and satisfactory performance of the device is assured.

the 'gudgeon c and C? While I have shown the knife in one eon struction engaged upon the stern bearing and extending to t 1e skeg, of course, it may be secured under the counter and to the stern post or in any suitable manner to effect the purpose. Howsoever, engaged, however, the edge of the propeller blade swings obliquely across the edge of the knife insuring effective cutting operation with the least expenditure of power.

Obviously there are various ways of cmbodying my invention and I therefore do not purpose limiting this application for patent otherwise than necessitated by the pier art, as the application'of the knives \\'Ill of course vary with the stern constrin-iion, character of the propeller and in some instances with the size of the boat or vessel to which applied.

I claim my invention:

. 1. In a device of the class dcscril'iod a gear casing journaled to rotate horizmnally at the stern of the boat and adapted to steer said boat, a propeller shaft journalcd therein, a rdpeller thereon, and rearwardly directed mives secured to the casing and courting with the fo "ward edges of the propeller blades.

' 2. The combination with a boat of a closed gear casing vertically pivoted at the slorn thereof, a driving shaft extending downwardly into the casing, a propeller shaft extending rearwardly tl'ierefrom, a propeller thereon, eoaeting gears within the gear casing for driving the propeller from the driving shaft, and rearwardly directed knives rigidly l secured to the casing, the rear edges thereof l coacting with the forward edges of the propeller blades, the upper edges of said knives I and the propeller inclining upwardly and l rearwardly to facilitate. the removal by the l current of weeds or the like that might otherwise lodge above the knives.

3. In a device of the class described a propeller having the forward edges of its blades curved rearwardly to permit material sliding thereover, actuating mechanism for the pro peller, a sectional casing inclosing the same and acting as a rudder and a knife integral with one of the sections of the casing, having an edge curved complelnentally with the forlward edge of the propeller blades and eoactl ing tl'ierewith in severing material.

l 4. In a device of the class set forth a pro peller prrrzidcd with blades curved to permit l material to slide rearwardly thereover, knives coacting with the blades and affording a shearing cut on material, a plurality of l times for each revolution of the propeller, l and a sectional easing acting as a rudder and l the sections being integral with the knives.

I 5. In a device of the class descril'icd the l combination with a pro )eller provided .n'it'h A blades having rearwarrly curved ifoi'wanl ed es, of actuating mechanism for the pro; pe er, a casing inclosing the actuating mechanism to'exclurle material and acting as the rudder and means secured to the casing ada ted to coaet with the propeller blades in c caring material therefrom and the propeller shaft.

- *6. 111a device of the elass-jdescribed the combination with the fahtuiating '1 shaft I and the propeller shaft bf transmitting n1echanismpperatively connecting --the same, a

casin eoveringlthe same,'a propelleron the prope er shalt having blades shaped-to assist material sliding thereover and means coacting'with the blades a plurality of timesiduring each revolution -to sever any material retained by the same or shafts.

4 7. In a device'of the class described a com bified casing and knives acting as a rudder and a propeller' coactihg with the knives to cut refuse' 8. In a device of the class described an integral casing and knives adapted to inclose the transmission mechanism and ada ted to guide'thedevice andw propelling mec anism adapted to make "a shearing cut with said.

knivese *1 combined "steering; propulsion and -clearing" device comprising a casing, rear 3 jngwith the knives, said propeller and knives ha thei adjacent edges curved comple a t y 1,9. A

wardly directed knives and a, propeller coaet c oacting to cut materia I I device of" the class described comprising propelling mechanism, steering mech- 'anism and means'adjustable witlrthe 'steer-,

in'g mechanism and propelling mechanism for coact'ing with the propelling mechanism .to sever material.

'11. In a device of the class-deseribedan' adjustable propeller, ,sc ermg mechanism adjustable to coaet therewith and a rudder for steering the'device, 'said propeller and rudder adjustable simultaneously with the sever ng mechanism.

12. ln a" device of the class described' a propeller adapted to be rotated in a'horizontal. lane, aknife for coactingivith the blades knife when thepropeller rotates and for steeriru the boat.

13Qfn a device-of the class described a 'casingmnd propeller simultaneously rota In testimony hereof I have hereunto.

of the class described a 1propeller and knives ,"Of t 1e pro eller and rotatable therewith in a .horizo-nta plane and means for rotating the subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribingWitnesses.

WILLIAM oAsAnnY.

Wi t1 losses G130. A. KNonLocK, WM. E; KoNznN. 

